Minnesota's Justin Morneau, left, and manager Ron Gardenhire watch batting practice as they stand at first base prior to their Opening Day game agains the Tigers at Target Field in Miinneapolis on Monday April 1, 2013. (Pioneer Press: Sherri LaRose-Chiglo)

The boy smiled slightly, then clicked his way through a two-minute test as Morneau and Twins pitcher Scott Diamond, joining him for this appearance, observed quietly, without movement.

Later, the players asked Kenny if his team has been able to get on the field yet. The boy said they’ve been working out in the gym.

“I’ve spent some time in the gym,” Morneau said with a knowing smile. “Usually not in April, though.”

Test over, Morneau signed the boy’s cap, taking care to choose the best color of Sharpie. Silver was the choice.

A cameraman asked Morneau what he thought of the whole process.

“Doesn’t matter what I think,” the 2006 American League most valuable player said. “Matters what he thinks.”

He nodded toward Kenny, now wearing a fancy new onyx hearing aid.

The boy heard his words and smiled.

STARKEY HELPED DAD

This could be Morneau’s final season with the Twins.

That’s not exactly a news flash.

As he finishes up a six-year, $80 million deal, Morneau is open to staying but already is seeing his name pop up on those early-season lists of Players Most Likely to be Traded.

Last weekend Jim Bowden, the former big-league general manager now on a second tour of duty at ESPN, listed Morneau in his top five, suggesting Baltimore, Tampa Bay and Texas as the three most likely destinations.

Asked about his future several times this spring, Morneau’s stock answer is that he hopes the rebuilding Twins will surprise people and be in a position to add talent, rather than subtract, at the July 31 trade deadline.

In the meantime, it’s clear Morneau has no plans to alter his attitude or decrease his visibility as he powers into his 11th season in the majors, all with the Twins.

He and wife Krista will maintain their strong presence in the Twin Cities community, even with two young children at home.

On Jackie Robinson Day, Morneau was among the most eloquent Twins in praising the contributions of the baseball pioneer.

Hours earlier, Morneau kept his word and spent nearly 90 minutes on a game day at the Starkey facility, where founder and CEO Bill Austin greeted him like family.

Two years ago, Morneau brought his father in for a fitting after years of gradual hearing loss.

“I’d say it went on for a good four or five years, maybe longer,” Morneau said. “Ask his wife. You could hear their TV probably two houses over.”

Once George Morneau, a former junior hockey standout, received his hearing aids, the difference was unmistakable.

“It was almost as helpful to the rest of the family as it was for him,” Justin Morneau said. “It can be frustrating for the people around. With my dad, you would have a conversation with him, and he’d repeat what he thought he heard back. It’s frustrating, and I think it was frustrating for him, too.”

The Morneaus returned to Starkey world headquarters last fall so Austin could make some adjustments in George’s hearing aids.

The Twins star has attended one of Starkey’s fundraising galas and pledged to represent the company on one of its many worldwide goodwill missions, perhaps as soon as this winter.

“From talking to (NFL star wide receiver) Larry Fitzgerald and hearing the way it’s made a difference in his life and how amazing he says it is to be there and be able to see it change people’s lives and witness it, I’m really looking forward to it,” Morneau said. “Just to see the good that people are doing is something you want to be a part of.”

Starkey, which has linked up with the Clinton Global Initiative, has conducted missions to more than 110 countries, from Africa to South America and most points in between.

“Hopefully it’s this winter,” Morneau said of his participation. “Somewhere warm, that’s for sure.”

Monday’s event was the first time Morneau had seen first-hand the difference Starkey can make for children.

“This is something we take for granted, I think, and that is being able to hear,” Morneau said. “You kind of feel isolated and like you’re by yourself in a classroom or whatever it might be. To be able to give that gift of hearing is pretty amazing. And to see the videos from around the world, kids who have never heard a sound before, to see them be able to hear, it’s pretty touching, pretty cool.”

‘PAYING IT FORWARD’

Even with the uncertainty that awaits him after this season, Morneau will not change.

Healthy again after a series of debilitating physical issues, including multiple bouts with post-concussion syndrome, he seems to be in a good place as he approaches the 10th anniversary of his big-league debut on June 10.

“We’re very fortunate as athletes in the communities we play in to be able to make a difference and to do things we normally otherwise wouldn’t be able to do,” Morneau said. “For us, I think we’re given so much from the places we’ve played. I’ve spent my whole career here, and I’ve benefited from the people of Minnesota and Twins fans in the area.”

For instance, Morneau was humbled to meet 14-year-old Lucas Morang of Winsted, Minn. On Monday, Lucas presented the Starkey Hearing Foundation with a donation of nearly $31,000, funds raised over a period of six years through a series of garage sales, carnivals, silent auctions and the like.

That was all Lucas’ idea, a brainstorm that came to him six years ago after his mother, Donna, struggled to purchase hearing correction for Lucas at age 8.

“That’s amazing to me,” Morneau said. “That makes as big a difference in my life as it does somebody else’s. He was touched by the gift of hearing himself, and it kind of passes the good along. We see a lot of negativity in this world and a lot of negativity in the news. To see good things happening and see it passed along and people paying it forward, it’s always good to see those positive stories.”

Morneau left Morang and his family tickets for Monday night’s game against the Los Angeles Angels. Morneau went out that night and cracked a run-scoring double to deep center his second time up.

Hours after Morneau spoke, the world would be shaken anew by the bombing tragedy at the Boston Marathon. He had no idea another unspeakable horror was about to unfold as he and Diamond signed the T-shirts of those hearing-impaired children, some as young as 6.

Morneau, who turns 32 on May 15, was still posing for pictures — with the kids, their family members and the Starkey staff — on his way out the door.

“I think that’s the best part of our job, if you want to call it a job,” he said. “It’s being around kids and seeing their enthusiasm and seeing how happy they are when you walk into a room or whatever it is. For me to be able to come out and do any small thing that makes a difference, that’s a pretty special feeling.”

No, he never saw this coming all those years ago back in New Westminster, British Columbia.

“It’s something you didn’t dream of when you dreamed of being a major league baseball player,” Morneau said. “You didn’t think you could make a difference in young people’s lives like that.”

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